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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Why is Chris Huhne acting as Jacqui Smith's human shield?

Chris Huhne was on the Today programme this morning, defending the government's decision to ban Geert Wilders from entering Britain. He has just been on Channel 4 news doing the same thing.

I think the government is wrong to ban him. You need only see Wilders' hairstyle to realise that he is a vain and silly man. The idea that his presence will be enough to incite violence against Muslims in Britain is ridiculous. Rather, the ban has given Wilders what he craves: publicity.

This argument was put very well on Channel 4 by Maajid Nawaz. I wish they had been put by the Liberal Democrat representative.

But even if you think Chris is right, you have to ask what he is doing working so hard to defend the government position. Let Jacqui Smith go on the radio and television to defend her actions and take the criticism. Don't act as her human shield.

The fact that Smith has been nowhere near the media today suggests she realises hers was a pretty shabby decision. So why is Chris making her life easier?